Sunday, July 27, 2014

Great Rock Moments Captured On Video (2)

If I could through myself set your spirit free; I'd lead your heart away; See you break, break away... Bad - U2

It was July 13, 1985 and the world was united through music. Live Aid was the brain child of English muscicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. The idea of it spawned from the successful Christmas benefit single Do They Know It's Christmas? recorded by the who's who of the day's English artists from George Michael, Boy George, Bono to Sting. The USA answered with We Are the World and included an American star studded group that included Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and many others. Both singles were recorded to raise money and awareness for the famine going on in Africa.

Live Aid was the benefit concerts that took place in Wembley Stadium in London, England and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, PA. The concerts were held simultaneously and connected via satellite and television. The concert feature many of the day's popular artists such as Dire Straits, U2, The Pretenders, The Cars; The Who and Led Zeppelin reunited for the day; Bob Dylan suggest giving some of the money to the struggling farmers of America and later spawned Farm Aid; it was an amazing event, rivaling Woodstock as one of the most influential concert events of all time.

U2 stole the show and forever established themselves as major stars. Bono's spontaneous and inspirational performance made this one of the great rock moments.